Norfolk Tides' roster taking shape under the Florida sun

One of the game's top lefty pitching prospects could find his way to Norfolk at some point this season

March 26, 2014|By David Driver, Correspondent

SARASOTA, Fla. — Triple-A baseball fans, including those who follow the Norfolk Tides, are used to watching players with major-league experience who are sometimes in their early 30s and may never get back to The Show.

But this season there is a good chance fans at Harbor Park will get to watch a promising left-handed pitcher who has yet to appear in the major leagues.

Eduardo Rodriguez, who turns 21 April 7, was invited here to spring training with the Baltimore Orioles as a non-roster player after he pitched last season for Single-A Advanced Frederick of the Carolina League and Double-A Bowie of the Eastern League.

He is the third-best prospect in the Orioles system according to Baseball America, an industry. Rodriguez is also rated as one of the top lefties in all of the minors by Baseball America. Rodriguez is likely to start the season in the rotation of Bowie or Norfolk — either way Harbor Park should be in his future this season.

"Last year it was a pretty good season. I got to the Futures Games and the Carolina League All-Star game. It was pretty fun. Last year was the best year in my life," said Rodriguez, sitting in the Baltimore clubhouse during spring training. "I pitched pretty good last year but I want to play better this year. This year my goal is the big leagues."

Last year the product of Venezuela was 6-4 with an ERA of 2.85 in 14 starts for Frederick. He was then promoted to Bowie, where he was 4-3 with an ERA of 4.22 in 11 starts.

"He has really come into his own," says Dean Albany, Executive Mid-Atlantic scout for the Orioles. "He has worked hard. He knows how to hold runners on now. He has really matured. He is one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the game."

A more certain candidate to start the Norfolk season in the rotation is right-hander and East Carolina University product Mike Wright, who was 11-3 with an ERA of 3.26 last season for Bowie then made one start for the Tides. He was in camp with the Orioles as a non-roster invitee before he was sent to minor league camp on March 9.

"He is going to pitch in Norfolk this year," Orioles' manager Buck Showalter said after a spring training game against Pittsburgh.

Left-handed pitcher Mike Belfiore was in big league camp for the Orioles until he was sent down to Norfolk on March 7. He was 2-1 with an ERA of 3.18 in 37 games out of the bullpen for the Tides last season.

"Last year wasn't the year I wanted to have," said Johnson, who was 1-1, 7.47 in nine games for the Orioles. "Anytime you are in the minors, you want to be in the majors."

Britton is not likely to be sent to Norfolk. If he does not make the Orioles' Opening Day roster he can be picked up on waivers by another club.

There were several scouts from other teams back of home plate at Ed Smith Stadium here when Britton pitched on March 9 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training. Britton pitched two scoreless innings, the sixth and seventh, to lower his spring ERA to 1.50.

Stinson, who has big league experience, is the No. 28 prospect in the Orioles system. Right-hander Tim Alderson and Nick Addition were sent to minor league camp on March 7 and could end up with the Tides at some point in 2014.

Position players on the 40-man roster who spent time with the Tides last year include catcher Steve Clevenger; second basemen Ryan Flaherty and Jonathan Schoop and outfielder Henry Urrutia.

"It is an exciting time. You are reading to play baseball. I am excited and trying to compete for a job," said Clevenger, a Baltimore native who grew up rooting for the Orioles. Clevenger appeared to have the upper hand for the backup job when Monell was sent to Norfolk on March 19.

Schoop and Urrutia could start the season with the Tides. Schoop hit .256 in 70 games for the Tides last season while Urrutia batted .316 in 29 games. Schoop is rated the No. 5 prospect in the Orioles' system, according to Baseball America, while Urrutia is listed at No. 7. Both saw time in the majors last year.

On March 23 the Orioles sent infielder David Adams, a University of Virginia product, to Norfolk just days after he had been picked up from the Indians on waivers. He played for the Yankees last season. The same day catcher Caleb Joseph was sent to minor league camp. Joseph played in 22 games for the Tides in 2012.

Ron Johnson returns for his third season as the Norfolk manager this year and Mike Griffin will again be the pitching coach.

Tides key dates

March 29: Exhibition game at Harbor Park with the Orioles at 3:05 p.m.